[3] Born into a seafaring family in Cobh, County Cork, English became an internationally successful yacht-racing captain and long-distance offshore competitor.

[5] English competed in the 1977 Admiral's Cup boat Big Apple, and on board Moonduster for the 1979 Fastnet race.

[2] In addition to sailing on Irish entrants in 1977, and 1987, and Skippering Jameson 3 in 1993, he also competed with the Japanese in 1981 and onboard Dihard the Papua New Guinea entrance in the 1983 edition of the Admiral's Cup.

[10] In 1982, he joined Hugh Treharne's sailmaking team, to become part of the Australia II America's Cup Campaign.

[11] English then campaigned during the 1987 Defender Selection Series with Syd Fischer on Royal Sydney Yacht Squadron Steak 'n' Kidney .

[16] In 1993 Ireland qualified a 3 boat team for the Admiral's Cup of that year, backed by John Storey and sponsored by Jameson Whiskey.

[18][19] In 1994, with members of the Royal Cork Yacht Club English led the development of the 1720 Sportsboat, one of the world's first boat classes aimed at delivering affordable and fun racing for local club-level sailors.

[1] In 2008 English sailed on the TP52 Yacht Numbers with fellow America's Cup and Whitbread Veteran Brad Butterworth, during the 2008 Cork Week and eventual winner of their class.

[23][24] Following the establishment of the Joe English Trust, with fellow America's Cup sailor, John Bertrand (sailor, born 1946), English became an advocate and campaigner for better solutions to treat and manage Alzheimer's disease, by meeting the President of Ireland to highlight the cause and participating in an RTÉ Television programme in association with the Alzheimer Society of Ireland.

[26] Aoife along with brother Robbie English are National and European 1720 Sportsboat Class Champions, a boat originally developed by their father.